This is a
suprisingly large and heavy coin produced the Franklin Mint in 1972 as
one of a
set of 50
pewter medals commemorating
the History of Colonial America. This particular coin is issue #43 and
portrays the burning
of the British ship Gaspee in resistance to British
oppression. Inscription on reverse reads:

The Bicentennial Council of the
Thirteen
Original States*NH*Mass*RI*Conn*NY*Penn*NJ*Del*Md*Va*NC*SC*Ga*

The burning of the British
ship "Gaspee" in 1772
encouraged the colo-
nists in their resist-
ance to British
oppression.

Side: THE
OFFICIAL HISTORY
OF COLONIAL
AMERICA
FINE
PEWTER

Townshend Act

Silver coin,
assumably part of a series by an
unknown
mint. The detailed engraving portrays the Burning of the Gaspee. "As a
result of the prolonged Townshend Acts Riots, angry colonists burn the
British HMS Gaspee". 1.25 inches in diameter and hallmarked with reeded
edge. Minted in the 1970's. While, historically, the burning of the
Gaspee
in 1772 was much removed from a reaction to the Townshend Acts of 1767,
we'll enjoy the artwork.

Gaspee Days
Committee 1972
The Gaspee Commemorative Coin was designed by
Donald
J. Breig, a Pawtuxet die cutter at the request of the Gaspee Days
Committee.
The obverse features the silhouette of the Gaspee surrounded by
thirteen stars. The reverse shows the Independent Man and the
legend,
'First Blow for Freedom'. On March 16, 1972, at Breig's die shop, 5
Aborn
Street, Cranston, the Gaspee Day Bicentennial Commemorative Coin was
struck.
1772 silver coins were made and sold for $10 each, and an unlimited
number
of copper coins were sold for $3 each.

The first silver coin was delivered to
Governor Frank
Licht, accompanied by Cranston Mayor James L. Tait and Warwick Mayor
Philip
Noel. Another silver coin was hand delivered to President Richard Nixon
in Washington for inclusion in the Smithsonian Institution. The
dies
for the coins were destroyed on December 31, 1972.

Coin is silver or copper and is
about the size of a US
quarter

Rhode Island Historical Society 1972

Beautiful and
impressive Bronze and Silver "
Burning of
the Gaspee " Commemorative marking the 200th anniversary of the
historic
event. Measuring 1.5 inches in diameter, the
obverse
shows a
detailed artistic rendition of the burning Gaspee. Reverse shows the
seal
of the RI Historical Society. Minted in 1972 by the Franklin Mint, its
population is limited
to only 1104. Both medallions are the same size, though the photos have
different image sizes.

Royal Mint 1976

Sterling silver
medal (1 troy ounce) struck
by the Royal
Mint of Great Britain for the American Express Company as "Freedom
Medals"
for the American Bicentennial of the Revolutionary War. Each is proof
finished
and about 1.5 inches across. This medal depicts the Gaspee in flames
and
includes appropriate words by Samuel Adams in 1771.

DAR, Gaspee Chapter

Regent Pin, Providence, RI,
1913. From an estate sale found on eBay

Miller 1978 Gaspee Pendant and Earrings
The Gaspee Day Committee commissioned Pawtuxet
designer C. L. Miller to create appropriate commemorative gifts for our
annual activities. Earring set (b), clutch pin (c), tie-tack (d),
and larger pendant (a) were available in satin finished pewter, and
were exclusively sold by the Gaspee Days Committee in 1978